Folding rack



June 18, 1929. A, KlRsHNER 11,111.98'1

FOLDING RACK Filed Feb. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR:

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June 18, 1929. A. s. KIRSHNER FOLDING RACK Filed Feb. 4, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 LiEEEE'NW/JZ Patented June 18, 1929.

UITED STATES ABRAHAM. S. KIRSHNER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDIN Gr RACK.

Application filed February 4, 1928. Serial No. 251,?90.

My invention relates to a new and useful folding rack which may be usedfor supporting a variety of household articles such as towels, clothes,wash rags, and similar articles, either for the purposes of drying orpending use.

Under present housing conditions it is desirable to economize space insmall kitchens, kitchenettes, bath rooms or the like, and. a support forarticles that are only used occasionally which can be folded or disposedin an out of the way position as against the wall while such articlesare not in use is obviously useful and advantageous.

.It is the object of my invention to produce a folding rack which can behorizontally p0- sitioned for supporting towels and similar articles ina handy, accessible position while in use and which can be folded intoan out of the way position" or against the wall while such articles arenot in use, thus effecting a substantial economy in space and presentinga neat and tidy appearance.

Folding towelracks and similar devices have heretofore been suggested,all of which, however, are rather complicated, unwieldy and expensive tomanufacture and produce. It is therefore a further object of myinvention to produce a folding rack which is of a simple, durable andinexpensive construction, comprising but two metallic members devoid ofsprings and complicated parts, and one which can be easily andeffectively applied to a wall or other support, without moving the sameto any extent.

' To the above ends, my invention consists of a supporting brackethaving a lower, forwardly projecting angular portion and an upper eye,and being adapted to be secured to a support, in conjunction with alongitudinal supporting arm, a U-shaped link passing through said eyeand pivotally secured to said arm, and transverse rods carried by saidbar in suitable spaced relation to each other, one of said rods passingthrough terminal eyes in said U-shaped link.

My invention further consists of various other novel features ofconstruction and advantage all as will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

For the purpose ofillustrating my invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1, represents a perspective View of a folding rack embodying myinvention, the same being shown in operative horizontal position.

Figure 2, represents on an enlarged scale a fragn'ient-ary top plan viewof the same.

Figure 3, represents on an enlarged scale, a fragmentary side elevationof the folding rack and its adjuncts, the rack being shown in foldedposition in dotted lines.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 represent a modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatelike parts, 1 designates a support such as a wall, door or the like, towhich is secured the supporting bracket 2 by the screwsor the like 3.The bracket 2 is provided with the upper eye 4 and the lower angularportion 5. 6 designatesa supporting arm, which is provided with thetransverse rods or bars 7 on which an article such as a towel, Wash ragor the like may be supported. 8 designates a U- shapcd link, the rearportion 9 of which passes through the eye 4, and -is provided with thelimbs 10 having the terminal eyes 11 through which passes the rearinostof the rods or bars 7 thereby forming a pivotal support as will beunderstood from Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The end of the lower angular por tionor tongue 5 is recessed as at 12 which recess engages the upper, rearedge 13 of the arm 6, when the latter is in the horizontal or operativeposition.

When it is desired to use the folding rack of my invention, it is merelynecessary to pull ordraw the arm 6 outwardly from the position seendotted in Fig. 3 into the horizontal or upwardly inclined position until the rear edge 13 thereof clears the angular lower portion of thebracket 2. The free end of the arm'6 is then adjusted so that the upperrear portion 1.3 thereof is .movement of the arm to and fro.

seated in the recess 12, the rear end 14 of the arm 6 then abuttingagainst the wall as seen in Fig. 3, thus maintaining the arm 6 in asubstantially horizontal or slightly upwardly inclined position.

\Vhen it is desired to fold up the rack, it is merely necessary to pullthe arm 6 out wardly until the rea r end thereof clears the end of thetongue or angular portion 5 and then lower the arm into a verticalpendant position, substantially parallel with the wall 1, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 3.

It will thus be seen that the folding rack of my novel construction iscomposed of the supporting bracket 2, the connecting link 8 and the arm6 through which passes the transverse bars or rods on which a towel orsimilar articles may be supported.

It Will further be seen that my novel folding rack may be brought intothe horizontal operative position, or may be folded against a wall orother support by a single Simple It will also be apparent that my novelfolding rack can be manufactured and assembled at a minimum cost, due tothe simplicity and minimum number of its parts.

,In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I employ, in lieuof the bracket 2, a bracket 15 which has the integral, lower, forwardlyprojecting tongue or flange 16 and which is adapted to be secured to awall or other support by the screws or other fastening devices 3. Thebracket 15 is provided with the bifurcated head 17 which has a throughaperture 18. Similarly in lieu of the U-shaped link 8, I employ a solidone-piece link 19 the upper end of which is secured in the bifurcatedhead 17 by means of the bolt or pin 20 as will be understood from Figs.4, 5 and 6. In lieu of the supporting arm 6, I employ a supporting arm21 which is split or bifurcated at its rear end as at 22, for thereception of the free end of the link 19, as will be understood fromFigs. 5 and 6. T he arm 21. is provided with a plurality of transverserods or bars 23, the rearmost one of which passes through re isteringapertures in the limbs of the rear bifurcated portion of the arm 21 andthe free end of the link 19 pivotally to secure said arm to said link.The principle and operation of this modification of my invention is thesame as that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and.3. Thus when itis desired to bring the supporting arm 21 into the horizontal, operativeposition, it is merely necessary to position the rear upper edge 2% ofthe arm 21 beneath and-in engagement with the lug or tongue 16, which,in conjunction with the link 19, will maintain the arm 21 in ahorizontal operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. If itis desired to fold the arm 21 into and out of the way position, it ismerely necesbutes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodimentto be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being bad to the appended claims rather than to the 'toregoingdescription to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is z 1. In a device of the character stated, athin, flat, one-piece bracket, an eye formed integral with said bracketat its top and extended transversely thereof, a tongue formed integralwith said bracket and projected forwardly from the bottom thereof in atransverse manner, an inverted substantially U- shaped link pivotallymounted in said eye, and having terminal eyes, a supporting arm, andmeans for pivotally securing the free ends of said link to the rearportion of said arm, whereby the latter may be swung into a verticalinoperative position or into a hori zontal operative position at will.

2. In a device of the character stated, a thin, flat, one-piece bracket,an eye formed integral with said bracket at its top andextendcdtransversely thcreo'l". a tongue formed integral with said bracket andprojected forwardly from the bottom thereof in a transverse ma-nner,asubstantially U-shaped link pivotally mounted in said eye, a supportingarm, cross bars carried thereby, and means for pivotally securing thefree ends of said link to the rear portion ofsaid arm, where.- by thelatter may be swung into a vertical inoperative position, or into ahorizontal operative position, said arm being maintained in its unfoldedposition by engagement with the underside of said tongue.

3. In a device of the character stated, a support, a thin, fiat,one-piece bracket adapts ed to be secured to said support and having anupper transverse eye and a lower forwardly projecting transverse tongue,with a transverse recess therein, a supporting arm, transverse crossbars arranged to support various articles carried thereby and aconnecting link pivotally mounted in said eye, said link having aterminal eye, through which the rearmost transverse bar passes, wherebysaid arm may be swung into a vertical inoperative position or into ahorizontal operative position at will, said recess in said tongueengaging the upper edge of said arm for maintaining the latter inunfolded lit) position, the rear end of said arm also abutplurality oftransversely extended rods ting against said support when-in the latterwhich pierce saidarm so as to extend upon 1 position; opposite sidesthereof, and a link the upper 4. In a device of the character stated, aend of which has pivotal relation with the 5 thin, flat, one-piecebracket having an upper bracket eye and the lower end of which istransverse eye and a lower abutment, said penetrated by the rearmost ofsaid rods.

eyes and abutment. being formed integral with said bracket, an armprovided with a ABRAHAM S. KIRSHNEB.

